Uncommon Knowledge: Where does a seashell’s ocean sound come from?

As kids, it made perfect sense for a tiny ocean to be contained within the confines of a beautiful shell. What else would explain that soft whoosh-ing sound you heard when you held it up to your ear? It was obviously the same magic that brought stuffed animals to life when you left the room. Though we’re still convinced that teddy bears have feelings, science has taught us that there is indeed reasoning behind any phenomenon. So if it’s not the ocean inside that shell, what is it? Turns out it’s just good old fashioned ambient noise, which you wouldn’t normally hear on your own. However, the shell’s hard and curved internal surfaces act as a resonator, reflecting different sounds depending on the shell’s size and shape. The fact that the noise sounds like an ocean is just a romantic coincidence—put an empty glass up to your ear with your hand cupped over it and you’ll hear the same sound. Be that as it may, nothing beats re-living a day spent at the beach than listening to the soothing sounds within a beautiful conch shell.

Kate is a copywriter. Strangers would describe her as that very tall girl with glasses, as would her friends. She is pretty good at needlepointing, surprisingly good at bocce ball, and very bad at choosing between sweet and savory at brunch. She is well-liked by most dogs.

Hooray for Math! Planning the Perfect Pi Day Party
Whether you flew through calculus or crawled your way through freshman year algebra, a party with pie is something everyone can get behind. Pi Day, a nerdtastic celebration of all things pi and pie, is approaching. Celebrate 3.1415... on 3/14/15 with these Pi Party pointers!

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Abi Treut
Ever wonder who sends the emails you get from UncommonGoods? Meet Abi from our Marketing team! (She also sends positive vibes while spreading "abbreves" and making walking in heels look easy.)

Gift Lab: Build Your Own Brooklyn
SEO Coordinator Rocky constructs a bit of the Brooklyn skyline in a corner of our office and makes some pretty entertaining videos while he's at it. It’s a good thing the iconic objects he’s crafting from our DIY kits are seriously scaled-down!

Instagram Challenge: FURRY FRIENDS
We're excited to bring back our most adorable challenge yet! Whether it's the dog that's been keeping you cozy all winter, or the cat that's already taken over your Instagram feed, we want to see your cutest non-human friends. While sharing your best shots, be sure to use the hashtag #UGInstafun for a chance to win a $50 gift card.

Giving someone a high five feels like the perfect way to celebrate some accomplishment—so natural that it must have descended through time immemorial, back to toga-bedecked, ancient Greeks slapping raised…